Name: Board of County Commissioners Reorganization Meeting on 2023-01-04 12:00 PM
Uploaded: 2023-01-04T00:00:00Z
Duration: 59 min 21 s
Description: I think my staff for their dedication, commitment, and support, and I know that we're going to do an awesome job together as a team.

[6:48] One second, as we

[6:53] get our MIA

[7:23] being so quiet.

[7:27] Yes, I need a high sign for our MIA's department.

[7:55] Tony Bench, are you here?

[8:35] Technology is a beautiful thing when it works.

[9:01] Okay, I have the high sign.

[9:07] Good afternoon and happy new year. My name is Louis M. Hoff, clerk of the Board for the Board of County Commissioners.

[9:13] And I would like to welcome you and thank you on behalf of the Pasey County Board of County Commissioners

[9:17] For attending this afternoon's 186 reorganization meeting, being held today, January 4, 2023 at 12 noon.

[9:28] Ladies and gentlemen, the notice requirement that open public meetings law has been satisfied with respect to this meeting,

[9:33] specifying the time, date and location, followed with the county clerk posting their administration building,

[9:39] and published in the held news and the Bergen record on December 28, 2022, in accordance with the provisions of law.

[9:46] I would also like to give greetings on behalf of County Commissioner Bartlett, who is traveling

[9:51] in India with his family and is unable to attend today and wishes everyone a happy and healthy

[9:59] new year.

[10:00] I'm also pleased to introduce this afternoon's Master of Ceremony's Matthew Peach, Jordan Esquire, Administrator for the County of Beseigh.

[10:15] If we can stand and commissioner Duffy Galeed, does it have a flag salute, please?

[10:22] Please join me.

[10:23] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to re-public for just

[10:30] the hands of one nation under God, invisible, will liberty, and this is for all.

[10:36] And if everyone could please continue to stand, and after the invocation, I would like

[10:41] a moment of silence to remember all the men and women who have died while serving in the

[10:45] United States armed forces, and all those who have died from COVID-19, especially the

[10:51] over 2,220 residents of the county of Beseigh.

[11:00] O God who provides for thy people by that power and rules over them in love.

[11:04] Be gracious enough to bless thy servants, our county commissioners in this county of Beseigh,

[11:09] that thy people make dwell in peace and safety through a Lord amen.

[11:24] Thank you, please be seated.

[11:31] I have the distinct honor of having Superior Court, Judge, Latoya, Jay Jenkins, a minister

[11:42] of the oath of office to an adage all orders are new county council.

[11:48] She was appointed by the county commissioners at the last county commissioner last year.

[11:54] Please join everyone up at the podium.

[12:35] Good afternoon.

[12:37] Raise your hand and repeat after me.

[12:41] I, I, the Dege D.O. order.

[12:43] Dege D.O. order is the solemnly affirm,

[12:46] the solemnly affirm that I will support the constitution

[12:49] that I will support the constitution of the United States of the United States

[12:53] and the constitution of the State of New Jersey and the constitution of the State of New Jersey

[12:58] and that it will bear true faith and allegiance to the same, and that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same,

[13:04] and to the government's established in the United States and in this state.

[13:09] And through the government establishing the United States and in this state, under the authority of the people,

[13:14] under the authority of the people, and that I will faithfully, and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly,

[13:21] and justly, perform all of the duties as county council, perform all of the duties as county council.

[13:27] So the best of my abilities and understand.

[13:30] To the best of my ability and understanding.

[13:33] So help me, guys.

[13:34] So help me, God.

[14:13] Three minutes.

[14:20] Thank you.

[14:40] Thank you.

[14:40] Thank you so much.

[14:42] First I'd like to thank God for this honor that has been restored upon me.

[14:48] So I thank God for that.

[14:49] I'd also like to thank all great Chairman,

[14:53] the Chairman of the Pasey County Devil Craig Party,

[14:55] Mr. John Curry, please do them a hand.

[15:02] Thank you so much for this opportunity. I know without you, it wouldn't be possible. So I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Then I'd like to thank county board of county commissioners. A hand of applause for them.

[15:20] This is the best board I've ever worked for. I thank you for appointing me to serve as your chief legal counsel. I am honored to serve the county in this position. And I'm looking forward to continue working for you and with you.

[15:35] I'm also looking forward to working with our new county administrator, Mr. Jordan, and as we continue

[15:43] to serve the resident of Pasey County. I'd like to thank Judge Jenkins for taking the time

[15:49] to facilitate the office for me. Thank you, Judge. I'd like to thank my family, my husband and children,

[15:57] my pastors. This is an age you need more than one pastor.

[16:04] And my friends who are all over the

[16:06] room thank you for taking the time to be here. I really appreciate it. The people from the community

[16:11] that I don't even know but who are here to support me. Thank you. The department hands that I've worked

[16:17] with for nearly five years. I'm looking forward to continue our partnership. Thank you for coming.

[16:22] And of course, my staff, they're here,

[16:31] and my new deputy, Miss Park,

[16:37] I think my staff for their dedication, commitment, and support, and I know that we're going to do an awesome job together as a team.

[16:46] Thank you so much everyone for coming, and I am so proud and honored to be appointed and to be in this position. Thank you so much.

[17:01] Thank you in the dead and congratulations.

[17:05] At this time we will have Judge Julian Niels, US District Court Judge Swearin, our new

[17:13] county administrator.

[17:20] Sorry, I'm going to have to count the fellow commissioners.

[17:24] This is actually a point of privilege because I'm a former county administrator from

[17:28] Bergen County.

[17:29] I've been on the bench for a year and a half and I had the privilege of working with

[17:32] Matt on a number of things.

[17:34] So this is a very wise choice that I can provide to you all,

[17:40] but

[17:50] that's talent.

[17:53] Are you ready, sir?

[17:54] Please repeat after me.

[17:56] I state your name.

[17:57] I am at the Jordan.

[17:58] Do solemnly swear.

[17:59] Do solemnly swear.

[18:00] That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[18:03] That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

[18:05] And the Constitution of the State of New Jersey.

[18:07] To the Constitution of the United States.

[18:09] And that I will bear true faith and allegiance.

[18:11] You know, they are true faith and allegiance.

[18:13] To the same.

[18:14] And to the government's establishing the United States, and to the governments, and in this state, under the authority of the people, and that I will faithfully, impartially, and justly perform, all the duties as county administrator, all of the duties as county administrator, so the best of my abilities, and understanding, so help me guys.

[19:04] I

[19:19] just want to thank Judge Niels and everyone here, my family, my wife, my parents, my son,

[19:25] a chairman-curry, the commissioners, the judge.

[19:29] Thank you for being here.

[19:35] Congratulations again.

[19:36] And our former administrator, who's in the back room, I had to need to know about how could I

[19:40] talk about it.

[19:49] Congratulations Matt and look forward to working with you and your new position.

[19:53] here at the county. So, for a point of record, we'll also on both.

[20:00] Both the county commissioners, Terry Duffy and Pat LePour, were sworn in earlier, so I need to read this for the record.

[20:09] For the record, as clerk of the board, I am received a certified post of office from the county commissioners Duffy and LePour for a third year.

[20:16] Three-year term, beginning January 1, 2023, and continue through December 31, 2025.

[20:42] We have a Simon Judge, Ernest Capacelo with here, for the Superior Court, I'm saying that

[20:48] it this and this.

[20:49] I'm going to turn it over to Judge Capacelo to give us a state of the Court.

[20:51] All right.

[20:52] Thank you, Matt.

[20:53] I'm very appreciative being here.

[20:55] When I first became a Simon Judge, I think might have been the first time I ever addressed

[21:00] the commissioners on the state of the courts.

[21:03] You know, when you come down to the complex here, we've got the administration, but we also have

[21:08] courts here and World Part is in this and we all work together very closely.

[21:12] So this is the last time I will address the Board of Commissioners on the State of

[21:17] the Courts and Psyc County.

[21:19] I will mandatoryly retire on my semi-native birthday on May 31st.

[21:22] Now I don't look like Saturday, but I'm going to be saying it.

[21:27] The first thing I want to do is thank you all for what you've done to improve the courthouse

[21:31] facilities.

[21:32] You ensure that our citizens have to dispute, decide in a fair, in silent professional

[21:38] atmosphere.

[21:41] Some of the things I just want to mention, because it had such an impact on us, the courts,

[21:47] and even accounting, was some of the facility issues I'm going to talk about.

[21:52] You constructed this magnificent plaza in front of the Courthouse 71 Hamilton Street,

[21:57] the Star Court House, where for years and years and years since it's been built,

[22:03] our court and county employees really enjoy the outdoor space, and I'll give credit to you,

[22:08] who came up with the idea of Tuesdays in the park,

[22:12] where we had entertainment and food trucks and things like that.

[22:16] So it was really very, very nice.

[22:18] Renovation restoration and the courthouse annex.

[22:21] Now, that's the building all the way down to the far end

[22:24] for those of you who weren't aware of that.

[22:28] It's beautiful and richly historic building

[22:32] that for years housed our family court,

[22:34] our jury assembly room, the building site vacant for several years.

[22:39] And now, how does the grand jury, our municipal division and probation child support unit?

[22:43] And if you just want to go see a really great restoration project, go take a walk through that building.

[22:51] Renovated the courthouse cafeteria.

[22:54] Those of us who've been around as long as I've been around, you know, it's like a roller coaster, sometimes it's good, sometimes it's bad.

[22:59] But you were, the commissioners were sensitive enough to say, look, we've got to renovate that cafeteria, put a new flooring, new furniture, counter space for laptop users, and most importantly, a vendor who provides a variety of quality foods.

[23:18] There's the historic warehouse that's the dome building, sometimes referred to the dome building.

[23:23] This is our most historic and most beautiful area in our facility.

[23:29] When you're in the retunda and you stand up and look, it's really breathtaking.

[23:34] Again, those of you who haven't been there please go there and take a look.

[23:39] It takes you back in time to remind you of Pasey County's rich history.

[23:46] Beautiful ceremonial courtrooms on that floor too.

[23:48] Now I hope you can voluntarily go and see that rather than be summoned there.

[23:52] but they're absolutely, they're absolutely beautiful. You have to see it. So beautiful, in fact,

[23:57] that we get numerous requests from major movie producers and directors and TV show, right?

[24:06] I think Queen Latifa was the last one that used that courtroom. So if you can go there and just take

[24:11] a look, it's really nice. And then you replace the carpeting and paint it everywhere in this place.

[24:16] There's not an inch in this place that the commissioners have not repainted and re-carpeted.

[24:23] It's an ongoing process and thankfully they recognize it.

[24:27] Of course, things that you don't see, like new roofs, to make sure that there's no leaks.

[24:33] It's a big deal in elevators that are very important.

[24:35] All being replaced.

[24:38] So the certain dates I remember, my family birthdays, my anniversary date,

[24:47] And March 16th of 2020, when I closed the courthouse for what I thought would be two weeks, it went out to be two years.

[24:59] This had a devastating...

[25:00] Accounting effect on the courts' ability to process and decide cases.

[25:05] The virtual world gave us the ability to process and decide cases and attempt to minimize the damage.

[25:11] During COVID, when COVID started to the present, we conducted 150,000 cases via Zoom.

[25:23] And that's in the superior court.

[25:26] We conducted, and we can't forget,

[25:28] it's also part of the municipal court's

[25:30] also part of this whole thing.

[25:32] They conducted 109,000 virtual proceedings.

[25:37] So you can see that that was a major help to us

[25:41] doing this, and it continues to be,

[25:43] because a lot of the lawyers, the clients,

[25:45] they like it, they don't have to run down to a court

[25:47] house, they can appear on the video,

[25:49] not for everything, but for many things.

[25:52] So let me give you some numbers.

[25:54] I won't bore you with statistics, but these are important.

[26:00] All right, so our total staffing model for judiciary employees here in Pasey County is 500.

[26:06] Right, so when we're at full capacity, we have 500 staff people.

[26:09] We currently have approximately 61 vacancies we're trying to fill,

[26:13] but recruitment in the current market is challenging.

[26:16] It is a labor market with prospective employees wanting to dictate when we're in how they work.

[26:24] Many of them want to work from home and the operation just doesn't permit that.

[26:32] We've had a total of total filings between July 21st and June 22nd.

[26:37] So these are cases that were filed down here in this courthouse complex.

[26:41] In that one year, we had 33,374 cases filed in the Superior Court.

[26:49] We had the highest number of domestic violence filings for comparable counties, comparable

[26:54] counties being like Union County, Mercer County, Middlesex County, we had the highest number.

[27:04] We had 15,113 filed in a special civil park, and the reason I highlight that, that's

[27:11] people's court. You know, you've seen it on TV. That's the people's court. Small claims,

[27:16] landlord tenant. That's where, you know, a lot of pro-says litigants go to have their disputes

[27:22] decided. And so we had 15,113 violence in the special civil park. So one of the things we look at

[27:30] in the judiciary is backlog. How long has it taken for a person's case to be heard? So our vision

[27:36] is white backlog. It's 9,263 cases. It's a lot of cases. Our backlog is three times that

[27:45] comparable of viscene just placing us just behind Essex County for the second highest backlog in the

[27:51] entire judiciary.

[27:54] The number of post indictment cases is double that in the other viscene

[27:59] is with the exception of mom. Now these are reports. These are people who, you know, are presumed

[28:03] They've been indicted, they may be in jail, waiting trial, they may be outside trying to get their

[28:09] their lives together and they want to come to court.

[28:13] So we have that issue.

[28:17] 68% of our backlog was in two high volume dock.

[28:20] It's one I've met just mentioned, the special civil.

[28:23] But the other one is very important to is called the non-disolution docking.

[28:28] Child support, these are from folks who are not married.

[28:31] Child support, child custody,

[28:34] visitation, removal of child from the state, those are in severe backlog, both in those

[28:40] documents. Our landlord, our landlord tent of backlog is the highest in the state. We've

[28:47] got 4,335 cases, but I'm going to come in the county for the program rental assistance

[28:52] program that they put together that helped us to resolve the most difficult cases where, you

[28:58] know, the tenant, the landlord was demanding a lot of money and the tenant didn't have any money

[29:01] we tried to make peace as best we could.

[29:05] So that leads me to really the,

[29:08] one of the main points I want to hit home here.

[29:11] And that's the shortage of judges.

[29:12] You heard these horrendous numbers.

[29:14] And I think the horrendous, I really do.

[29:17] This backlog problem is exacerbated by our judicial shortages

[29:20] over several years.

[29:22] Our full complement of judges is 25.

[29:26] We currently have seven vacancies.

[29:28] When I retire, it will be eight.

[29:30] And just, Brogan follows right behind me in September, making it nine.

[29:34] If we don't get replacements, that's 36% of the bench is vacant.

[29:39] You just can't operate that way, you can.

[29:42] And that's why those numbers speak for themselves.

[29:46] The current shortage when factoring in the duration of the judicial vacancy

[29:50] translates into a loss of judicial productivity of a full-time judge for approximately 12 years.

[29:57] Based on the average of 743 cases.

[29:59] Thank you.

[30:00] The response of by a judge in a given here in amounts to 8,912 cases. So it's not just a vacancies, it's

[30:08] how long the vacancies have been here. It gets worse as time goes on. And so we just can't

[30:16] let that perpetuate and grow because it's going to be having disastrous effect on the courts.

[30:24] This shortage is also putting excessive pressure on our judges and staff to keep up with their

[30:30] dockets.

[30:31] Our human resources department is seeing excessive absenteeism and requests for psychological

[30:37] help.

[30:38] Morral is suffering.

[30:41] There is a breaking point and we are getting there sooner than later.

[30:46] Finally I want to just thank the sheriff.

[30:47] I know he's not here, but for all he does for the courthouse, keep him in full safe.

[30:52] And finally, I want to thank the commissioners.

[30:58] My 40 years being associated with the courthouse,

[31:00] first is a law clerk that has a trial lawyer in judge.

[31:03] I've never seen our county government more responsive

[31:05] to the needs of the courts than in my tenure as your assignment judge.

[31:09] For that, I will be forever grateful.

[31:11] Thank you.

[31:20] Judge, thank you.

[31:22] It has been a wonderful partnership with you leading the helm.

[31:25] As the assignment judge, I want to thank you on behalf of the board

[31:28] in the county for your years of service.

[31:30] You will be sorely missed.

[31:34] Clerk, we have a roll call.

[31:38] County Commissioner is Bartlett.

[31:40] Best here.

[31:41] Duffy here.

[31:42] Gallo.

[31:43] Here.

[31:45] Lizara.

[31:45] Here.

[31:46] LePore.

[31:49] May I have a nominations for director for the year 2023?

[31:55] I will nominate my friend, LePore, and the director.

[32:00] And I gladly second an nomination.

[32:02] Are

[32:05] there any other nominations?

[32:07] I move the close.

[32:09] Yes.

[32:11] Second.

[32:13] Roll call.

[32:15] County commissioners.

[32:16] Best.

[32:17] Yes.

[32:17] Duffy.

[32:18] Yes.

[32:18] Gallo.

[32:19] Yes.

[32:19] James.

[32:20] Yes.

[32:21] I have

[32:28] a motion to vote upon the nomination for County Commissioner to wrap there.

[32:34] I'm making a motion.

[32:35] as director for a panel for a new director.

[32:38] And I enthusiastically seconded that.

[32:43] roll call county commissioners best.

[32:46] Yes, doffy yes.

[32:47] Gallo yes James Lizara yes or yes congratulations director before.

[33:14] Well, I'm just there.

[33:16] No, no worries director.

[33:18] So yes.

[33:22] May I have a nomination for Deputy Director for the year 2023?

[33:34] Second, that motion?

[33:37] Are there any other nominations?

[33:42] I'm sorry I should have done a roll call.

[33:45] County Commissioners, a best?

[33:48] Duffy?

[33:48] Yes.

[33:49] Gallo?

[33:50] Yes.

[33:50] James?

[33:50] Yes.

[33:51] Yes.

[33:51] Yes. Yes.

[33:53] Yes.

[33:53] Okay.

[33:54] I may have a motion to close the nominations.

[34:01] Second, I motion.

[34:04] Roko County Commissioner's best.

[34:07] Duffy.

[34:08] Gallo.

[34:09] Yes.

[34:09] James.

[34:10] Yes.

[34:12] Lepore. Yes.

[34:13] May have a motion to vote upon the nomination for County Commissioner.

[34:17] Duffy.

[34:25] Second, I motion.

[34:28] Roko County Commissioner's best.

[34:33] Yes.

[34:34] Yes.

[34:34] The poor?

[34:35] Yes.

[34:38] Deputy Director of Arts.

[34:44] We have our wonderful, say county clerk Daniel Ireland in both here.

[34:48] Bye.

[34:49] Thank you.

[35:05] Would you raise your right hand in the afternoon please? I passed school, routines, не driving, organizations,chuiding, which is then all west of New York, I'd passed school, that's transport to Shanley Square.

[35:14] I will support the Constitution of the United States, and the Constitution of states...?

[35:21] And the Constitution of the State of New Jersey?

[35:21] and the Constitution of State of New Jersey? I will thank true faith and allegiance to the sami.

[35:26] And I will priests to the cross faith and allegiance to the sami

[35:29] and to the 여러분들 &忙...

[35:31] and the government's established in the United States and in the state and in this state.

[35:37] Under the authority of the people, under the authority of the people.

[35:41] And I will faithfully impartially and justly perform.

[35:44] I will faithfully impartially and justly perform.

[35:47] All of the duties as county commissioner director.

[35:50] All of the duties of county commissioner director.

[35:52] So the best of my abilities and understalled.

[35:55] So the best of my abilities and understanding.

[35:57] So I hope may God.

[36:18] Okay, first of all, thank you all for coming, happy new year to each and every one of you,

[36:24] and that healthy new year, which is most important.

[36:28] I want to start out by thanking our Democratic Chairman John Curry for without his support and his hard work.

[36:35] I wouldn't be sitting here, so thank you very much, Chairman.

[36:44] I want to thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity and the honor of serving as Director.

[36:49] After I have to tell you I've been working for almost all of them for quite a number of years

[36:56] now, and I can say that any hesitation that this group of commissioners are here to address

[37:04] and the needs of the people that they serve and that elected them here, there are no egos

[37:08] or there's no nonsense, there's just dedication to everyone.

[37:14] And so I want to thank them each and every one of them for their service.

[37:19] I want to thank our outgoing director Bruce James for the great job that he did in the

[37:24] year 2022, it was a difficult year, but you're up for the task.

[37:29] And thank you again, Commissioner.

[37:31] I want to congratulate Matt and a Desch, my left.

[37:36] We'll be working this year together, and I can't think of two people that I'd rather be working

[37:42] with in their capacities.

[37:44] I also want to thank our former administrator, who is here.

[37:50] He snuck in the back door.

[37:51] That's why we didn't see you Anthony.

[37:53] And thank you for your service.

[37:54] Much appreciate it.

[37:57] As the director, there is quite a bit of responsibility

[38:01] that goes with it.

[38:04] But I appreciate the fact that I'm working with a great bunch

[38:08] of people.

[38:09] And I'm confident that we will continue

[38:11] to the great work that this board has done for the past

[38:15] number of years and we will continue working together

[38:19] to meet the needs of the people that put us here.

[38:22] So with that, I believe I haven't taken over here.

[38:28] Okay, and we're going to have to recognize,

[38:32] we have under Sheriff Cuidrano here on behalf

[38:34] of Sheriff Berdnik.

[38:36] Oh, yes.

[38:37] Thank you.

[38:40] Yeah, we have our Sergei Cuidrge, as I was like,

[38:43] Thank you.

[38:48] Robert Traci, I'm trying to port administrator.

[38:50] We talked about the partnership with the judiciary.

[38:52] Robert has been a big part of that.

[38:54] Thank you.

[38:56] I'm John McCoy.

[38:58] Former Business Administration,

[39:01] Amongst other things.

[39:06] Okay.

[39:11] At this time, I'd like to open the e-up for the public portion of the meeting.

[39:15] I'll take a motion.

[39:18] Move by Commissioner James.

[39:19] Second by Commissioner Duffy.

[39:20] Roll call.

[39:23] Got any commission?

[39:23] There's best.

[39:24] Yes.

[39:30] I'm sorry.

[39:32] That'd be me.

[39:33] That wrong.

[39:34] I apologize.

[39:38] Yes.

[39:40] Any commissioner?

[39:42] Yes.

[39:44] Director LePore.

[39:46] At this time, anyone from the public who wishes to address this board?

[39:49] Please step forward.

[39:50] State your name and address.

[39:53] We have a time limit here of three minutes.

[39:55] There is electronic light show that goes on there to let you know.

[40:00] When the time is up. I mean, your name and address.

[40:10] I forgot to mention, Kenyatta Stewart, the New York Corporation.

[40:20] Good afternoon. Of course, a name Kenyatta Stewart, Salib and Patterson and North Helden. I can't say it aloud for legal reasons.

[40:31] and we ought to know about these.

[40:34] First, I wanted to say, of course, happy New Year to you all and congratulations.

[40:39] You know, started from my left, moving over, you know, Harry Duffy, you know, you and I

[40:44] have had some deep talks when it comes to, you know, to sum this up that, and my professional

[40:49] life and then your professional life and your family, of course Matt Jordan, I mean, you

[40:54] know, I remember you just became a prosecutor and now you're here and I could say that

[40:58] looking forward to seeing the work that you can do.

[41:03] Director, as he starts to smile, you know, of course, you guys are like a tandem.

[41:08] And, you know, I will say that, you know, congratulations for, you know, you all are sticking in here.

[41:12] I know that the last election cycle is pretty rough.

[41:16] More importantly, I will say that, you know, we're here today as people to show you that.

[41:22] We'll continue to be involved, right?

[41:23] We did things, you know, I could go indoors and call them people and, you know, fight in the fight for you and I think it's the poor for us to stay continue to stay in the mouth.

[41:34] There's all orders and congratulations.

[41:37] I can tell you that, you know, I pray that your kids never forget that moment.

[41:42] I pray.

[41:43] I know my son, I usually show him the picture of my wife.

[41:46] I mean, once in a while, there's a lot of no-how important it is, or someone like Des Capacet

[41:50] who swore my wife in, and, of course, through the chairman, gave her the opportunity.

[41:56] But, last time, I understand that.

[41:58] You know, I will say this.

[42:00] The dish, a big part of the reason why these new faces are here is because we simply just said,

[42:06] you know what, there's a good young lady who's going to have an opportunity to make history,

[42:10] to be a black woman, to hold the highest level of county official as far as legal,

[42:16] capacity, some of our friends from the legal department I don't know, and I said, you know,

[42:20] it's not fair for me to just say, oh, just lawyers, just come in. So these folks

[42:24] will be into the left hand side, but it was important to come because they wanted to

[42:27] see it too. And then they didn't think that we should walk away from the situation, but

[42:31] I appreciate the moment that, you know, we, we all take for granted. Our day to day,

[42:36] we fight for things, we work hard and then we just move on to the next thing. We thought it

[42:40] was important. And Chairman, I know I recognize that, you know, it's hard work to do what

[42:45] to do. I want you to know that, you know, it's unfair for us not to be engaged and we will

[42:50] be engaged. We'll be involved and here we're not. I can't say that we'll be here every meeting

[42:54] because some of these folks have gone from work and I appreciate all of you guys that are here.

[42:59] Well, we just want to say congratulations and we also want to say that, you know, we appreciate the

[43:04] work that you guys do on a date of that. We don't really come and say it's up, right? I might

[43:08] shake off these hands and we're, but on a flip side though and on a serious note, we think it's

[43:13] for our voices and our communication to be better.

[43:18] Thank you.

[43:19] Thank you.

[43:24] Anyone else from the public wishing to be heard?

[43:28] Seeing all that podium, I moved to court.

[43:31] Sorry.

[43:31] He didn't mean that.

[43:33] He didn't mean that.

[43:35] But that name did after him.

[43:37] I just wanted to say congratulations to all of you.

[43:41] And to, I thought the sheriff would be here because I don't know how many of you know.

[43:44] My oldest sister passed her last month, and we asked for a escort from the, you know, home to farewell on.

[43:56] And I want to tell you that we so appreciate the escort that the county gave us along with this city.

[44:03] So I just want to just stop by and say thank you. So the next time that you see me, I might not be so thankful.

[44:10] But I'm thankful right now. Thank you all.

[44:12] Good

[44:20] afternoon everyone. My name is Dr. Joseph S. Fullmore Sr., and as history will

[44:29] have it, and certainly before I speak on history to our chairman, yes sir, continue the

[44:37] great job you are doing for what's happening here today. It is a written record of past

[44:42] event to judge the fugitive. But also I stand here to seek a

[44:48] congratulations to all of you again and to a young man up here

[44:52] if you don't mind me being biased a little, you know, best I, with me and the

[44:57] seventh grade at public school number six.

[45:00] And as a mentor, to see him continue to grow, and I continue to look behind me and see some

[45:05] many of our students here here that are going to continue to grow to do great things. It

[45:11] makes my heart feel fine and warm. But even more so. As I stand before you as one of the

[45:19] only persons, I'm pretty sure this may be the standing alive that's original from the Brown

[45:25] versus Board of Education, I am that little black boy to see what just happened here and knowing

[45:34] what I experienced. It's a wonderful thing. And I'm going to sing aloud to you, madam,

[45:43] attorney, all waters, and I'm going to sing aloud to you, TJ Best, and then I'm going to

[45:47] sing out all of you, because it takes a team to win the game. But then when in the game, let's

[45:57] make sure as our Michael Dyson said in his book, on equal, let's let that equal word and

[46:07] have a substance and really mean something, because as a kid, when I always looked at

[46:12] the Constitution and then Brown versus Board of Education, you know, sometime I questioned

[46:17] it, but I'll take this up with Brother John Curley later on. There's another piece, the

[46:23] to that. But I just want to say congratulations. God bless all of you. Let's have a great year.

[46:29] And remember, only we can make it happen.

[46:33] Thank you.

[46:38] Seeing no one at the podium, anyone else wishing to be hurt?

[46:43] You ready to enter?

[46:44] Ready, aye.

[46:45] Seeing no one at the podium, I'm going to close the public portion.

[46:48] Second.

[46:49] Motion to close.

[46:50] Second.

[46:51] Best.

[46:55] Any commissioners?

[46:57] Opie. Yes. Gallo. Yes. James. Yes.

[47:00] Lizara. Yes.

[47:01] Correct the look for. Yes. Next we have the consent agenda.

[47:08] If there are any commissioners have any questions regarding the consent agenda.

[47:13] Mr. Director through you. I would like to separate items number 21 and 22 to be voted on separately.

[47:20] Okay.

[47:26] Any other questions?

[47:30] There are any late starters.

[47:33] No, I do act with them.

[47:37] It can take me a while or go this way.

[47:41] Okay, I'll take a motion to approve the consensus agenda.

[47:45] Second.

[47:46] That would be just for the record, director.

[47:50] You won through you 20.

[47:51] You won through you 20 correct.

[47:54] I have a motion.

[47:55] I have a second.

[47:56] Local county commissioners best. Yes, I'll be yes. Gallo. Yes, James. Yes, Lizara. Yes, direct the LePore. Yes

[48:07] Now take a motion for you 21 and you 22

[48:13] Major motion second motion made. I have a second

[48:19] Welcome.

[48:21] County commissioners, best?

[48:22] I'm saying.

[48:23] Dolphi?

[48:24] Gallo?

[48:25] Abstain?

[48:26] James?

[48:28] Lazar?

[48:29] Yes?

[48:30] Director LePore?

[48:31] Yes.

[48:43] Yeah, you want?

[48:46] Now we're going to have the administration of the Otholegians to voting members of the

[48:51] Follow-On boards by the Honorable Judge Capasella,

[48:57] as you can see in item B.

[48:59] So if you're being sworn into one of these boards, or we're just appointed, please stand up.

[49:24] In the Constitution of the State of New Jersey,

[49:29] and that it will bear true faith and allegiance to the same

[49:35] to the government's established, the United States, and in this state, under the authority of the people,

[49:47] and that I will faithfully, partially, and just perform all of the duties as Commissioner of Lipsaic Count.

[50:00] Member of the committee that, yes, the committee. Right, so whatever this man, to the best of my ability and understanding, so help you got.

[50:14] So on this, I'll say I'm just going to go into the BPC County Insurance Commission, that was on.

[50:20] It's a big commission.

[50:21] Thank you, Your Honor, before we adjourn last any of my colleagues, if there's any comments

[50:33] they want to say at this time, go free.

[50:37] I actually work with you, tell this,

[50:46] directing you some days.

[50:47] I don't know how you did.

[50:50] Survive.

[50:52] So there's a couple of me running around the room.

[50:54] Yeah.

[50:54] I'm serious, I mean, you know, 98 degrees, you know, on up, yellows, and knock it on doors,

[51:02] and you don't have steps, often with people, you have to stop, you have to stop.

[51:06] Carry you to, so guys work for this, you deserve it, and stay carrying two great things.

[51:17] Thank you, Grace.

[51:19] Thank you.

[51:19] I'm sorry, so you know, thank you very much, anybody else?

[51:24] I just want to wish everyone happy new year, safe, and I believe it's 2023, quite quick.

[51:31] So, all that happy new year, be safe.

[51:35] Chairman, another term with me, huh?

[51:40] So, thank you so much.

[51:42] And I want to comment on that, and if he's, I'm sure they're going to do a great job.

[51:47] I'm sorry to see Tony Lee, of course.

[51:49] Is that true?

[51:50] you'd be working at Duffy's behind the grill, I have an opening. Thank you.

[51:58] Anybody else?

[51:59] Yeah, I'd just like to congratulate everyone who got appointed today.

[52:04] You know, we miss our work.

[52:06] There's a saying that Tony D'Nove had big shoes to fill.

[52:10] But if you look at Matt's feet, you're pretty big.

[52:13] So I have no problem.

[52:17] But everybody, you know, it's a joy to work with everyone here.

[52:21] I look forward to another great year and it's going to be hard work.

[52:25] But I know when we pull together we get it done.

[52:27] And thank you, Chairman, for everything that you've done.

[52:29] Thank you.

[52:31] What else?

[52:37] Yes.

[52:38] So again, I want to congratulate Pat, who's my first director when I first came on.

[52:44] So, yes.

[52:46] Congratulations.

[52:48] Also, I want to congratulate both of the

[52:51] the Des and Matt.

[52:52] You guys are no strangers to the work here in the

[52:54] Sae County family, but in your new roles,

[52:57] we're expecting you to lead the county forward.

[53:00] Unlike everyone else, I'm not going to miss

[53:02] Tony the Nova at all.

[53:04] That's because I'm going to move in this basement.

[53:08] No, I'm also very encouraged by everyone from the

[53:12] community coming out today.

[53:14] I've been staying for the last 12 years that we need

[53:16] hear more from the community. I'm extremely excited and I hope that this is not the only time

[53:21] that you guys come out. It is your responsibility to hold us accountable. Each and every time

[53:27] we come up here and we vote on something. It normally comes from great recommendation of some

[53:33] outstanding county employees. So if everyone's sitting over there who works for the county at Pasek,

[53:39] we thank you. You guys are a real champions. You do the heavy lifting. We just sit up here and take the vote.

[53:44] And hopefully, that vote is favorable to the community and that aspect has been missing in the past so I'm very excited to see you guys out here and I ask that you continue to hold us accountable. Thank you.

[54:01] I'm honored to be here working with my colleagues and I want to congratulate Terry and Pat LaPore director.

[54:10] And I'm looking forward to working this whole year with them and enjoying it and happy New Year's

[54:15] everyone.

[54:16] Thank you.

[54:17] Thank you.

[54:18] And I'll close out by saying that first of all, I want to thank voters of say County for giving

[54:25] me the privilege of serving as their commissioner again, which I'm very, very proud of the fact

[54:32] that I am your commissioner.

[54:34] I also am honored to serve with all the employees to the department heads of this county.

[54:40] We're all part of an amazing team here, whether it's engineering, the county clerk to

[54:45] or get kind of counsel, the whole public works, our engineer, it's a...

[55:00] Thank you. The road department, you guys do a great job and I'm looking forward to a year of more accomplishments, more getting things done, which is what we're about.

[55:15] One last thing, before I bring out the committees,

[55:21] the democracy, you hear it so often in this past election.

[55:27] Judging by what's going on in Washington, it's past day to, it's important to understand that the democracy is an easy.

[55:37] You have to work, you have to work for people who have your best interest in mind,

[55:43] So that you don't get some of that nonsense that's going on in Washington right now.

[55:49] And I want to thank everybody in the community who worked hard.

[55:54] Bruce talked about going up steps.

[55:56] Well, there were people with me when I went up the steps.

[55:59] There were people with me when we walked to streets in 95 degree heat.

[56:06] Our Senator Nellie Poe, Benji Wimbilee, our Assemblyman,

[56:10] and our Assemblywoman, Shavangasumter, walked and swept alongside Terry and I, and the sheriff,

[56:19] each and every day during the summer, especially when it was so hot.

[56:22] And these were people that are committed to good government, and I cannot, I cannot thank them enough,

[56:29] or the sacrifice and the work that they did.

[56:32] Chairman, once again, I want to thank you for putting that team that campaign team together.

[56:37] I think Mike Serone in the back, Michael, thank you for all that you've done for the campaign.

[56:47] And let's not forget that we have to work every year to make sure the good people are

[56:53] elected. Not only to this board, but to your municipal councils, your mayors,

[56:59] all your school boards, all the people that are entrusted with making things work right here in

[57:11] an adjournment for the committee assignments, administration and finance, Bruce James

[57:18] Chair, myself and Sandy Lazara, Health and Human Services, John Bartlett Chair, TJ Best

[57:26] and Bruce James, Public Works, myself, Terry Duffy and Sandy Lazara, Loan Public Safety,

[57:34] Terry Duffy Chair, TJ Best and Nicolina Gallo, Planning and Economic Development, Sandy

[57:40] was there a chair, John Barlett and Bruce James and the budget committee myself as chair

[57:46] Bruce James and Sandy was there with that. I'll take a motion to adjourn.

[57:52] Second motion may we have a second roll call.

[57:58] Got any commissioners best? Yes.

[58:00] Doffy? Yes.

[58:01] Gallo? Yes. James? Yes.

[58:03] Lizara? Yes.

[58:05] Correct.

[58:05] The LePore? Yes. And before we leave I just want to, I was forgot, you know, we forget the

[58:09] people closest to you, Luim Hop, you do a phenomenal job as a clerk.

[58:22] What if he's not here or so?

[58:23] I don't know.

[58:23] She'll hear her.

[58:24] No, I want to thank my wife and family.

[58:27] I'll see her later.

[58:29] Please don't tell her, I said that all.

[58:32] I think it's on.

[58:33] Oh, Lord.

[58:34] Okay.

[58:36] Well, thank you very much, Lou, for all that you've done.

[58:40] Yes.

[58:40] And at 530, the State County check this evening, we're going to have a ceremonial

[58:48] ceremony of every one, and there will be refreshments provided by the State County

[58:54] Tech students.

[58:56] They always do a phenomenal job.

[58:58] I can't wait to be there this afternoon, so we'll see you at 530.

[59:02] Thank you.

[59:08] Oh, you want these back, right?

[59:13] You rest on that?

[59:16] I'm letting it go.

[59:21] Look, look, look.

Board of County Commissioners Reorganization Meeting on 2023-01-04 12:00 PM

Agenda

Transcript